KaereKimura (木村カエレ)x MatoiTsunetsuki (常月まとい)

Despondent and Distracted.

BureBureBureBure.

I spent the whole of the next day tapping my pencil on my wooden desk.

ClackClackClack.

This earned me the occasional hiss of shushing from various people, mainly Chiri who was adamant that no one should be interrupted whilst trying to expand their minds. I paid little attention to her. I was nervous. I had caught up Kaere the previous evening and she had arranged for us to meet after school, needless to say this was a little unsettling, even for me. I had to tear myself away from Sensei tonight that would prove difficult. What if he found someone else? What If he killed himself without me? What if he even made a suicide pact with someone else? My heart ached to think about such notions. They were ludicrous ideas but one person's version of ridiculous is another's picture of sanity.

Brrrrrrrrring.

That was the bell. Signalling the end of the day. I looked up, watching my love dismiss his students, drinking him in, storing him in my mind so as to keep me going through the evening without him.

'Class Dismi-'

His eyes dropped to his desk for a moment. Our hearts sank collectively; we all knew what was coming. He threw his hands up into the air with a manic looks in his eyes and exclaimed:

'I'M IN DESPAIR, THIS ROUTINE HAS LEFT ME IN DESPAIR!'

He slammed his head against the desk and we let our bags sink to the floor, we knew we'd have to listen to his explanation. I for one was glad that I had time to prepare for Kaere. I glanced in her direction and saw her slouched in her chair, shooting daggers at Itoshiki sensei. Maybe she'd threaten to sue him for detaining us beyond school limits. Chiri stood up, asking the question that was inevitable.

'Sensei, Why has the school routine left you in despair?'

She sat down once more as we awaited his next outburst.

'Because the same routine day in day out will slowly but surely brain wash us to the point that If we break out of this routine we will breakdown, have panic attacks and seek any form of order. In this way the government can take complete control of us. There will be no creativity, no poetry, and no art. Our imaginations will surely be quenched by the mundane and monotonous regime.'

He clutched at his tousled hair. He looked out at the sea of unenthused and disbelieving faces. Crying out in frustration he commenced to flee the room, undoubtedly for the school councillor's office. That was his usual haunt after one of his eruptions. We didn't hesitate to continue our normal routine after this. None of us were concerned by his notions and busied ourselves in our own lives.

I sat nervously my hands twisting and turning the sleeves of my kimono as I watched Kaere pack away her belongings. Kafuka came bounding to my side and I tried to focus my attention on her.

'Ah, Kafuka-chan, shouldn't you be getting home?'

Kafuka smiled at me, her dazzlingly white teeth fully displayed. She had such an infectious smile.

'Oh, no! Today I am joining you and Kaere-chan! The more the merrier, right?'

My face fell; the smile was wiped from my visage as my stomach tightened. As If this whole situation wasn't embarrassing enough now Kafuka was going to witness it too!? Groaning, I sank back in my chair, avoiding Kafuka's vivid eyes which seemed so innocent, so perfect. She had nothing wrong with her, no abnormality that differed her from the rest of humanity, except maybe that her over zealous optimism left her vulnerable and little naïve.

'Ready to go?'

Kaere's voice was shy and quiet, she had regressed into Kaede now, her coy ego. How exactly was she going to teach me her audacious ways if she was now even more timid than me? Nonetheless, I jumped to my feet, grabbing my bag and standing shoulder to shoulder with Kafuka as we looked up at the usually bold blonde. I nodded.

'Good, we'll be commencing today's lesson in the tearoom. Follow me, please.'

Shhhhack.

She slid open the door carefully and daintily. Within minutes we were outside the tea room, and once again Kaede slid open the door, which seemed to make very little noise at all, as if mirroring her now introverted personality. Stepping inside, Kafuka following me, I let my eyes drift across the room and let a smile creep across my face as I saw all the impressive cakes and intricately painted tea sets, this was Chiri's doing. I could tell because the cakes were divided exactly into three pieces and each cup had a line drawn on the inside so we all had exactly the same amount of tea.

Bangbang.

Both my optimistic friend and me dropped our bags and leapt at the food, our stomachs overpowering our minds and will power. I was happily stuffing my face with obscene amounts of sugary food when I felt a strong hand grasp the back of my collar and pulll me away from the table, I looked to my right to see Kafuka joining me in out backwards jolt.

'Girls, it's unseemly for Japanese women such as yourselves to be so self-indulgent.'

Her meek and soft voice was almost more irritating than her loud and brash one. I relaxed my muscles, stopped fighting her strength and turned around to face her bittersweet smile, I really don't know why I agreed to this.

It was going to be a long lesson.